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The sentence

> 質問が２つあります。

translates to

> I have a couple of questions.

But I assume the more literal translation is something like:

> Questions, there exist two.

**Question:** If my literal translation is correct, isn't "two" acting
something like the direct object of the verb "to exist"? And if that's the
case, why isn't "two" marked with a direct object particle, as in:

> 質問が２つをあります。

More generally, I'm starting to notice (the very basic, in retrospect) fact
that not all nouns are marked with particles in Japanese sentences. When & why
they aren't is becoming mysterious to me.


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2022-07-28T18:16:30.880
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2022-07-29T03:55:02.777
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translation counters
Why is ２つ not marked with a を particle here?


Numerals act adverbially a small majority of the time in Japanese.

You might have learned 「２個のリンゴを食べた」, but I'd say 「リンゴを２個食べた」 is more common.
ある is an intransitive verb, and you _cannot_ put an を after the number in your
sentence, nor in the one I've provided. While you could probably put a は, that
would imply 'I have two questions (and a different number of something else)'.


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2022-07-28T19:06:55.430
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